Golfer&#39;s head restraining device



Sept. 19, 1967 EVANS 3,342,496

GOLFER'S HEAD RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Dec' 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .1. r

INVENTOR.

A L/ 650 4. M4/V-S,

p 1967 A. 1.. EVANS 3,342,496

GOLFER'S HEAD RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 G /2 2f? (ox IL FIG. 5 5 I l /47 :i

INVENTOR. 41.5250 4. EVA/VS,

United States Patent 3,342,496 GOLFERS HEAD RESTRAINING DEVICE Alfred L. Evans, 115 Allenwood Drive, Clarksville, Tenn. 37040 Filed Dec. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 422,785 10 Claims. (Cl. 273--190) This invention relates to a golfers training aid for use in practicing driving with the head in correct positions.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simpler, more effective, more comfortable, and easier to use device of the kind indicated, which substantially eliminates likelihood of head or neck jarring or twisting, characteristic of prior devices, by providing for greater freedom for the golfers head to move and turn toward the left, with limited restraint against movements of the head downwardly and toward the right, in a right-handed golfer while executing the back stroke and the down stroke of a drive.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a device of the invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, on the scale of FIGURE 2, showing the head rest engaged with the forehead of a golfer;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged and contracted vertical section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section, on the scale of FIG- URE 7, taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises a perpendicular post 10 which is set into and clamped, as indicated at 12, in a vertically elongated socket 14, embedded in the ground G. The post 10 has a fixed elbow 16, on its upper end, into which the related end of a horizontal arm 18 is fixed.

The arm 18 has fixed to its outer end, a pair of superimposed and connected, relatively short tubes 20, 22, which are disposed at an acute downward and outward angle relative to the arm 18. The tubes 20, 22 are connected together by a web 24. Fixed to and upstanding on the midlength point of the upper tube 20, is a shank 26, disposed at right angles to the tube 20, and terminating at its upper end, in a V-shaped fork 28. The arms of the fork 28 are covered with friction producing material coating 30, such as rubber.

A longitudinally adjustable carrier bar 32, substantially longer than the tubes 20, 22, comprises spaced upper and lower parallel rods 32, 34 which slide in the tubes 20, 22, respectively. The rods 32, 34 are connected and spaced, at their upper and lower ends, by upper and lower webs 36, 38, respectively.

A pair of upper links 40 are pivoted, at their lower ends, as indicated at 42, to the upper carrier bar web 36, and are pivoted, at their upper ends, as indicated at 44, to the upper end of a straight positioning rod 46. The positioning rod 46 is somewhat shorter than the carrier bar, and has a covered lateral handle 48, on its lower end. Adjacent to the lower end, the positioning rod has pivoted thereto, as indicated at 50, a pair of lower links 52, which straddle the carrier bar 32 and are pivoted thereto, at their lower ends, as indicated at 54. The related parts are proportioned so that the positioning rod 46 normally lies in the fork 28, with the rod 46 friction'ally held thereon against longitudinal movement, relative to the carrier bar 32.

A head restrainer assembly 56 is mounted on the lower end of the carrier bar 32, and comprises a pair of laterally spaced generally horizontal arms 58, which straddle the lower web 38 of the carrier bar 32, and are secured thereto, as by means of a bolt 60. The arms 58 have lateral cars 62, at their ends remote from the carrier bar, which are secured, as by means of bolts 64, to the adjacent side of a head restrainer 66.

The head restrainer 66 comprises a fiat bar having an elongated straight portion 68, to which the arms 58 are secured, having on its right-hand end, facing a righthanded golfer, a curved right-hand end portion 70, which is disposed at an acute angle to the straight portion 63. A pad 72, of such as rubber, is secured along the outer side of the head restrainer bar portions 68 and 70'.

While the device can be used without a platform 74, its efficiency and practicality are greater enhanced with such platform. The platform 74 comprises a rectangular heavy gauge plate of suitable rigid material, which rests upon the ground G, in such a position that a tee 76 and golf ball 78 thereon, when centered on the inner end of the platform, are substantially in line with the horizontal arm 18. With this arrangement, a golfer taking stance centered on the other end of the platform, has his head in position to engage his forehead F with the head rest 66.

The head restrainer 66 is adapted to be raised or lowered, to suit the height of the golfer, simply by pushing up on the positioning rod handle 48, so as to disengage the rod 46 from the fork 28, and then moving the rod 46 endwise until the correct position of the head restrainer is obtained. Release of the handle permits the rod 46 to fall into the fork and retain the adjusted position.

In use, the golfer places his forehead against the straight portion 68 of the head restrainer 6'6, with his right temple engaged with the curved portion 70. This prevents substantial undesired downward movement of the head and prevents substantial right-hand movement of the head, while, at the same time desirably permitting free turning of the head toward the left, to follow the flight of the ball, as the down stroke of the drive is through theball. It is to be noted that the head restrainer in no Way grips the head of the golfer, so that jarring of the head and twisting of the neck, common to prior related devices, cannot take place.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a support, and a golfers head restrainer mounted on the support, said head restrainer consisting essentially of a substantially straight horizontal portion. terminating at one end in a curved portion, said head restrainer being so connected to said support that said straight portion extends horizontally and may be engaged by the forehead of a golfer in position to swing on a golf ball and said curved portion may, when said golfer is in said position, engage his head on one side thereof and restrict the movement of his head to said side.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the head engaging sides of said head restrainer portions are substantially fiat, and a cushioning pad secured to said flat sides.

3. A device of the character described comprising an upstanding post having a lateral horizontal arm adjacent to its upper end, a rigid, unitary downwardly angled member fixed to the outer end of said arm, a carrier bar slidable lengthwise on said member, a golfers head restrainer secured on the depressed end of the carrier bar, means for moving the carrier bar endwise relative to said member, and means mounted on said member and engageable with said moving means to hold said moving means in any adjusted position.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said head restrainer comprises a horizontal transversely elongated bar having a straight forehead engaging portion, said straight portion terminating at one end thereof in a curved portion adapted to be engaged by a side of the head of a golfer.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said member is tubular and said carrier bar is slidably engaged therethrough.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein said member is tubular and said carrier bar is slidably engaged therethrough, said moving means comprising a positioning rod articulated to the carrier bar for endwise movements relative thereto, and for lateral movements relative thereto, a frictional member fixed on said tubular member with which the positioning rod is normally frictionally engaged.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein said member is tubular and said carrier bar is slidably engaged therethrough, said moving means comprising a positioning rod articulated to the carrier bar for endwise movements relative thereto, and for lateral movement relative thereto, a frictional member fixed on said tubular member with which the positioning rod is normally frictionally engaged, said frictional member comprising a fork upstanding on the tubular member.

8. A device of the character described comprising an upstanding post having a fixed lateral arm on its upper end, a downwardly and outwardly angled member fixed on the outer end of said arm, said member having upper and lower tubes, a carrier bar comprising upper and lower rods slidable through said upper and lower tubes respectively, a positioning rod extending along and positioned above said upper tube, upper link means pivoted to the upper end of the positioning rod and the upper end of the carrier bar, lower link means pivoted to the lower end of the carrier bar and the lower end of the positioning bar, a fixed fork upstanding on said upper tube in which said positioning bar is normally frictionally engaged, and a head restrainer mounted on and extending laterally from the lower end of the carrier bar.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said positioning bar has a lateral handle at its lower end.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein said head restrainer comprises a flat horizontal transversely extending straight forehead engaging portion, and a curved temple engaging portion on an end of said straight portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,611,610 9/1952 Hara 273l90 X FOREIGN PATENTS 233,844 5/ 1925 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

G. I. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A SUPPORT, AND A GOLFER''S HEAD RESTRAINER MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT, SAID HEAD RESTRAINER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT HORIZONTAL PORTION TERMINATING AT ONE END IN A CURVED PORTION, SAID HEAD RESTRAINER BEING SO CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT THAT SAID STRAIGHT PORTION EXTENDS HORIZONTALLY AND MAY BE ENGAGED BY THE FOREHEAD OF A GOLFER IN POSITION TO SWING ON A GOLF BALL AND SAID CURVED PORTION MAY, WHEN SAID GOLFER IS IN POSITION, ENGAGE HIS HEAD ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF HIS HEAD TO SAID SIDE. 